Award nominations for anti-patent campaigners

Florian Mueller, best known to Register readers as one of the leaders of the campaign against the European software patent directive, has been nominated for the European of the Year award, run by the magazine European Voice.

Mueller, who founded the campaign group NoSoftwarePatents, is nominated in two categories: "Campaigner of the Year" and "European of the Year". He says he is honoured by the nomination.

Michel Rocard, the European Parliament's rapporteur on the software patent directive, is also being recognised. He has been nominated for the title "MEP of the Year".

In a statement, Mueller said: "I really owe this to all activists and citizens who supported our cause, especially to the FFII [Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure]."

Opponents of the proposed European directive on software patents, or computer implemented inventions as it was formally known, were concerned that the law would widen too far the scope of what is considered patentable.

In July, after a lengthy and often highly-charged debate, MEPs voted 648-14 (with 18 abstentions) against the directive, effectively killing it for the time being. Some MEPs have called for the Commission to draft a new proposal, but others would like the parliament's rejection to be the final word on the subject.

Feel like voting for Rocard and Mueller? Point your browser here and tick some boxes. The results will be announced towards the end of November 2005. ®